Tullis Matson, founder of the wildlife conservation charity Nature's SAFE, has described receiving an honorary degree from Harper Adams University as the "highlight" of his year. The Shropshire university is awarding honours to seven people as part of its 125th anniversary celebrations, and Matson said the recognition means a great deal because he left school at 16 with no qualifications and struggled with severe dyslexia, having once been told he would fail.

Matson, from Whitchurch, also runs Stallion Artificial Insemination Services, a leading cryopreservation firm, and his charity has frozen cell samples from 400 species, including 200 endangered ones, using liquid nitrogen at –196°C to safeguard genetic diversity. He will give a speech at the graduation ceremony on 16 September, alongside fellow honorees comedian Ed Byrne, Archers actress Felicity Finch, YouTuber-farmer Olly Harrison, Christine Tacon CBE, Professor Grant Edwards and John O'Brien MBE.